In a world where concerns about health and inclusivity are becoming increasingly central, there are still many issues that remain hidden, unspoken, and misunderstood. Among these, rheumatic diseases affect millions of people worldwide, yet their impact often goes unnoticed. These conditions do not always manifest in visible ways but deeply affect the lives of those who live with them, shaping their daily routines, emotions, and social interactions. The challenges they entail—chronic pain, fatigue, reduced mobility, and psychological distress—are frequently invisible to others, making the experience even more isolating.
Short Med_Cine 2025 was created to shed light on these untold stories and bring them to audiences through one of the most accessible and immediate forms of communication: cinema. Coordinated by the Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) and the Institute of History of Rheumatology (ISR), headquartered in Venice, this initiative is part of the Ca’ Foscari Short Film Festival and represents a new approach to discussing health—rather than medical conferences or scholarly papers, it utilizes the language of images and storytelling. This first edition—an experimental “zero edition”—aims to test the potential of this method and to see whether filmmakers, the public, and professionals in both the medical and film sectors find it meaningful and engaging.
At the heart of Short Med_Cine 2025 is the idea that raising awareness about rheumatic diseases goes beyond medical knowledge and extends to social responsibility. These conditions affect people’s capacity to work, maintain relationships, and participate in everyday life, often causing isolation and misunderstanding. By putting these issues on screen, we aim to highlight the resilience of those living with these diseases, the psychological and emotional obstacles they face, and ways in which society can be more inclusive and supportive.
This initiative is more than a film showcase: it is an attempt to promote prevention, awareness, and service to the community through a medium that reaches everyone, far beyond hospital wards and research centers. Medical knowledge, while crucial, often remains confined to specialists. Cinema, on the other hand, has the power to move hearts, allowing people to see and feel what statistics and clinical descriptions cannot convey.
Through personal narratives, social reflections, and advocacy, Short Med_Cine 2025 aspires to transform the way we speak about invisible diseases—not just as medical conditions but as human experiences that deserve to be seen, understood, and shared.
Internal outpatient specialist, UOC General Medicine 1, Ca’ Foncello Hospital, ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana, Treviso
Associate Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Genoa
UOSD of Rheumatology, AO San Pio Benevento
Associate Professor, University of Perugia, SC Rheumatology
Full Professor, Director of UOC Rheumatology, AOU of Padua, University of Padua. The unit he directs is a reference center for diagnosing and managing patients with rheumatologic conditions; during his tenure, the Padua Rheumatology Unit achieved recognition as a “EULAR Center of Excellence in Rheumatology 2022–2027.”
Rheumatologist, former Full Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Padua.
President of the Institute of History of Rheumatology (ISR).
Coordinator of the ULSS 3 Serenissima Rheumatology Area.
Director: Jesus Eguia Armenteros
Spain, 2020, 4’
SYNOPSIS
Franci is only a few kilometers from her Venetian beach apartment, accompanied by her Spanish boyfriend, her dog, and her best friend. It has been a difficult year, and Franci must make a tough decision: what does “far l’amore—make love” truly mean?
PROFILE
Ph.D. in Theory, History, and Practice of Theater from the University of Granada (Spain). He holds a BFA in Performing Arts from RESAD (Madrid) and an MA in Teaching Spanish Language & Literature from Universidad Nebrija (Madrid). Currently a Spanish and Media Writing Lecturer at the University of Padua (Italy). As a poet, he won the Miguel de Cervantes Young Writers Award for Los Cánticos Del Gusano (2007) and the Málaga Best Play Theatre Award 2006 Escena Joven for Testamento Vienés (2016). He has directed and written short films such as Brujas (Fibabc 2020), Maldita Familia (Best Notodofilm Fest 2019 Script nomination, Fibabc 2020), and La Mirada Del Hijo. As a screenwriter, his short films have received 87 national and 28 international official selections. In theater, he wrote and directed Heart of Darkness (2019), The Cardenio Project (2012), and Testamento Vienés (2007), as well as Sombras Saavedra at Teatro Alkázar in Spain.
Director: Adam Lauriol
France, 2024, 5’25”
SYNOPSIS
In an alternative Renaissance, a famous disabled painter glimpses new hope when training his robot assistant to complete his greatest work.
PROFILE
From a young age, Adam was introduced to cinema by his father, sparking a growing passion. At 11, he became interested in visual effects and began exploring video editing online. A self-taught learner, he expanded his skills in 3D, VFX, and motion design through tutorials and forums. In high school, he studied applied arts and went on to attend ArtFX in Montpellier (specializing in 3D animation, VFX, and video games). While at ArtFX, he acquired strong technical skills and worked on ambitious collaborative projects. His graduation film, Pittura, highlighted his abilities in 3D modeling and complex visual effects. During his academic journey, he did an internship at Mathematic in Paris, refining his skills in a professional environment and discovering the advertising sector.
Director: Deng Mengdi
China, 2025, 4’53”
SYNOPSIS
The story focuses on Yan Yang, a handmade souvenir/gift shop in Chengdu that acts as a haven situated between reality and the inner world for special groups of people. Having shielded themselves from pity, coldness, and hardship, they can find at least momentary joy here. Yang, who has suffered severe burns, regains confidence and dignity through his hands, while Yang Ge, akin to a “blue sheep,” runs steadily in life. The souls of these “blue sheep” are drifting in a lonely boat: which oasis will they drift toward?
PROFILE
Deng Mengdi, a student at the Film School of Sichuan Film and Television University, has participated in creating various film and television projects during her studies, specializing in dramatic family stories. She volunteered at the 17th Youth Film Festival and was a guest at both the 18th Youth Film Festival and the 37th Hundred Flowers Awards Forum. Among her main works, the independent short Spring in the Dead won Best Short Film at the Veneto International Film Festival, was nominated for Best Short Film Producer, and received the Best Short Film award at the Southeast Academy International Film Festival; Its Eyes Can Speak won the third prize at The Most Beautiful City Moment competition.
Director: Giulia Fo
Italy, 2024, 11’16”
SYNOPSIS
Isola (80), a widowed woman, spends her days alone in a small town in the province of Cagliari, Sardinia, awaiting the moment of her departure. Immersed in monotony and the slow passage of time, her greatest wish is to be reunited with her beloved husband.
PROFILE
Giulia Fo, originally from the province of Cagliari, grew up practicing dance, singing, and acting. After graduating in Social Sciences and gaining experience in theater as an actress and assistant director, she studied graphics, photography, cinema, and marketing. Working as a freelance photographer, director, writer, and social media manager in digital communication, she has collaborated with various artists, brands, and associations working in activism and psychological support. She has directed two short films, Sono qui, resta (2022-2023) and Isola, and has produced the photographic project Pride, dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community, exhibited at the Rainbook Festival in Cagliari (2024).
Director: Amir Hossein Bahmani
Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, 2024, 8’47”
SYNOPSIS
A father is healed by his little daughter’s love and energy.
PROFILE
Amir Hossein Bahmani is a 19-year-old from Iran who has been working in cinema for three years. Over this time, he has contributed to over 200 teasers, 15 music videos, 10 short films, and 10 documentaries as a camera operator and editor. The Ceiling of Wishes marks his directorial debut, produced entirely independently with no institutional support, and shot in just two days.
Director: Andrea Vulcano
Italy, 2024, 11’
SYNOPSIS
Ludovico, an aspiring football star, dreams of playing for Catania. During a match, a talent scout from his favorite team notices his outstanding performance. While the club is in the process of reorganization, the scout sets up a contract signing. But on the agreed day, Ludovico suddenly falls ill and must be rushed to the hospital.
PROFILE
Andrea Vulcano, 24, attended the film course at the Its Roberto Rossellini Foundation (2018-2020). After graduating, he worked as an assistant director on various national and international productions. Meanwhile, he directed his first short films: Crossed Destinies (2022), shown at festivals both in Italy and abroad, An Infinite Carousel (2022), In My Hands (2023), and Hidden Truths (2024), all produced by Massimo Vulcano.
Director: David Mastinu
Italy, 2022, 9’10”
SYNOPSIS
Rosina, confined in the monotony of passing time, is a widow whose fractured femur has cut her off from the outside world. She spends her days sitting in pain and sadness, watching TV. Alina, her caregiver, looks after her. Their stillness is broken by an idea Rosina has, by her perseverance, by her love that endures until the end, never surrendering. With the help of the TV, Rosina finds a goal—perhaps her last and most meaningful—in what remains of her life.
PROFILE
David Mastinu, born in Rome in 1984, studied screenwriting at the Renoir Film Academy in Rome, and subsequently directing and dramaturgy at the Rome Theater Academy. In 2016 he won the Dario Fo Theater Award for Best Dramaturgy, in 2019 he was among the winners of the Lupo Award (Stories section), and in 2020 was honored for Best Screenplay at the Ettore Scola Festival. The Birthday (2022) exemplifies his ability to merge social insight with a distinctive narrative style for the screen.
Director: Carmen Méndez
Spain, 2024, 25’
SYNOPSIS
A woman—the film’s director—feels a need to discover herself and look for answers. She picks up a camera to film her mother and grandmother for the first time. She is drawn back home to be with them. The film’s portrayal of mother and grandmother is also a self-portrait. Through them, she reconciles with her roots and her memories.
PROFILE
Carmen Méndez makes her directorial debut with this short autobiographical documentary. She has previously worked as an actress in theater, television, and film. On television, she spent seven seasons in TVG’s Pazo de Familia, a role for which she twice became a finalist for the Mestre Mateo Awards from the Galician Audiovisual Academy as Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in O Faro, Serramoura, Agua Seca, Élite and Saudade de ti. In film, she participated in Tres by Juanjo Giménez Peña, Bad Investigate by Portuguese production company Lightbox Filmes, and starred in Pelerinaxes, a documentary feature by Simone Saibene.
